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The Cruel Mother

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THE CRUEL MOTHER (Child 20)
Capo 1
Emthere was a Dlady who Emlived Din Emyork
she Emproved a Gchild by her Down fathers Emclock
Emshe leaned her Dback Emagainst Da Emthorn
and Emthere she Ghad her Dbaby Emborn
Emshe pulled Dout her EmweepiDng Emknife
aEmnd she Gtook that Dsweet babes Emlife
Emshe wiped the Dblade all Emon tDhe Emgrass
but the Emharder she Gwiped the Dblood ran Emfast
Emshe washed her Dhands all Emin tDhe Emstream
tEmhinking to Gturn a Dmaid Emagain
Emas she was Dwalking down Emher fDathers Emhall
she Emsaw three Gbabies a Dplaying at the Emball
Emone dressed in Dsilk the Emother Din Emsatin
the Emother as Gnaked as Dever was Emborn
Emall little Dbabies if Emyou Dwere Emmine
I’d Emdress you in Gsilk and Dsatin so Emfine
Emoh mother Ddear I Emonce Dwas Emdying
you Emneither Gdress me in Dclothes so Emfine
Emthe coldest Dclay it Emwas Dmy Embed
the Emgreen Ggrass was Dmy coverEmlet
Emall my fine Dbabes what will Embecome Dof Emme
yoEmu’ll be seven long Gyears a Dbud in a Emtree
Emseven long Dyears the Emtongue Dof a Embell
sEmeven long Gyears a Dporter in Emhell

All chords in this song (3)

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The Cruel Mother

by Misc Traditional

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 1 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

THE CRUEL MOTHER (Child 20)

Capo 1

Em D Em D Em

there was a lady who lived in york

Em G D Em

she proved a child by her own fathers clock

Em D Em D Em

she leaned her back against a thorn

Em G D Em

and there she had her baby born

Em D Em D Em

she pulled out her weeping knife

Em G D Em

and she took that sweet babes life

Em D Em D Em

she wiped the blade all on the grass

Em G D Em

but the harder she wiped the blood ran fast

Em D Em D Em

she washed her hands all in the stream

Em G D Em

thinking to turn a maid again

Em D Em D Em

as she was walking down her fathers hall

Em G D Em

she saw three babies a playing at the ball

Em D Em D Em

one dressed in silk the other in satin

Em G D Em

the other as naked as ever was born

Em D Em D Em

all little babies if you were mine

Em G D Em

I’d dress you in silk and satin so fine

Em D Em D Em

oh mother dear I once was dying

Em G D Em

you neither dress me in clothes so fine

Em D Em D Em

the coldest clay it was my bed

Em G D Em

the green grass was my coverlet

Em D Em D Em

all my fine babes what will become of me

Em G D Em

you’ll be seven long years a bud in a tree

Em D Em D Em

seven long years the tongue of a bell

Em G D Em

seven long years a porter in hell

About The Cruel Mother Chords by Misc Traditional

Learn how to play The Cruel Mother by Misc Traditional with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Cruel Mother chords”, “The Cruel Mother guitar chords”, or “Misc Traditional The Cruel Mother chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy The Cruel Mother chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Cruel Mother lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Em, D, G.

FAQ — The Cruel Mother by Misc Traditional

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What key is "The Cruel Mother" in?

The chords for "The Cruel Mother" show the original chord names (including Em, D, G). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.